Switch having a shock-proof lighted toggle switch

ABSTRACT

A switch having a lamp inside its toggle lever to serve as an indicator of the operating condition. An incandescant lamp having high visibility at some distance is preferred over neon lamps although it is more susceptible to damage under snap-action shock. To insure long life, a pair of shock absorbers are mounted near the lower end of the toggle lever to cushion the latter and thus prevent damage to the thin lamp filament.

United States Patent Keranen 1 Jan. 16, 1973 I SWITCH HAVING ASHOCK-PROOF 2,743.330 4/1956 Ludwig ..200/67 A LIGHTED TOGGLE SWIT H3.172.972 3/1965 Schliecher ..200/l66 H x Inventor: John J. Keranen,Sussex, Wis.

Cutter-Hammer, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis.

Filed: Jan. 28, 1972 Appl. No.: 221,737

Assignee:

US. Cl. ..200/l67 A, 200/166 H, 200/67 A Int. Cl. ..H0lh 9/18 Field ofSearch....200/l67 A, 166 H, 67 A, 67 F References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS ll/l955 Bentley ..200/67 F Primary Examinerl-l. 0. JonesAttorney-Hugh R. Rather et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A switch having a lamp inside its toggle lever to serve asan indicator of the operating condition. An incandescant lamp havinghigh visibility at some distance is preferred over neon lamps althoughit is more susceptible to damage under snap-action shock. To insure longlife, a pair of shock absorbers are mounted near the lower end of thetoggle lever to cushion the latter and thus prevent damage to the thinlamp filament.

6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures SWITCH HAVING A SHOCK-PROOF LIGHTED TOGGLESWITCH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Lighted toggle lever switches havebeen known heretofore. My prior US. Pat. No. 3,614,362, dated Oct. 19,1971, shows a toggle lever switch having a transparent or translucenthollow toggle lever handle and an indicator lamp bulb therewithin. Whileneon bulbs provide useful indication visibility when a clear plastichandle is used and can withstand the shock of .the snap-action operationof the toggle lever, it has SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to a switch having an incandescent lamp lighted toggle lever.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved incandescent lamplighted toggle lever switch.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a toggle leverswitch with shock absorber means preventing damage to the incandescentlamp mounted within the toggle lever.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide a switch withtoggle lever cushioning means enabling use of a high visibility low DC.voltage incandescent lamp within the toggle lever without danger ofsnap-action damage to the thin filament thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an enlarged frontelevational view of the switch with the cover and handle of the togglelever shown in section along the center-line plane transverse to thepivotal axis; and

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the cover and toggle lever assembly takenalong line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. I, there isshown a switch constructed in accordance with the invention that mayhave, for example, a single-pole double-throw switch action. This switchis provided with an insulating base '2 housing the switch contacts.

In the single-pole double-throw version illustrated, two pairs of switchterminals 4 and 6 extend out through the bottom of the base forconnection to an external circuit. These terminals are integral with orconnected to respective stationary contacts within the base. Thecontacts of the two pairs thereof are alternately bridged by a movablebridging contact when the toggle lever is moved between its twooperating positions as disclosed in my aforementioned US. Pat. No.3,614,362.

The open top of the base is closed by an insulating cover 8 that isrigidly secured to the base by a pair of rivets or bolts 10 or the liketo provide a switch housing. Integrally formed with the cover is anexternally threaded bushing 8a that extends up from the center thereofand is provided with a keyway 8b along one side thereof for nonrotatablyholding a keyed washer when a nut is threaded thereon to mount theswitch to a hole in a panel.

As shown in FIG. 1, the inside of the bushing is provided with asuitable configuration for snap-in mounting of a toggle lever formovement in the plane of FIG. 1 without allowing it to wobble transversefrom its proper plane of movement. For this purpose, the bushing whichis of plastic material has molded therein a socket for the sphericalportion 12a of the toggle lever. The upper sides of this socket divergeto the top of the bushing to form a frusto-conical opening 8d throughwhich the spherical portion of the toggle lever may be snapped into itspivotal seat. The lower portion of the bushing below the sphericalsocket is provided with a reduced opening 8e oblong in horizontalcrosssection as shown in FIG. 2 to guide the lower portion 12b (directlybelow the spherical portion) of the toggle lever in the plane of itsmovement.

As shown in FIG. 1, the reduced lowest end portion of the toggle leverextends part-way down into the upper portion of the base and is adaptedto engage the upper end cap of an overcenter, toggle-action compressionspring or the like for obtaining snap-action of the movable contact whenthe handle is actuated from one operating position to the other.

As shown in FIG. 1, toggle lever 12 has mounted thereon a snap-in orfriction-held removable hollow handle 14 covering a lamp bulb 16. Theupper end of toggle lever 12 is provided with a lamp socket. For thispurpose, this upper end is formed with a pair of spaced, flat upwardprojections 12d connected at their lower portions by a narrow web 12e toprovide a seat for the lamp bulb. A pair of grooves extend down throughthe upper portion of the toggle lever, one on each side of the narrowweb, and terminate in lateral holes extending in opposite directions inspherical portion 12a on the axis of rotation thereof. A pair of smalldiameter connector or conductor tubes 18 extend down through thesegrooves for receiving the two lamp bulb leads. A pair of resilientconnectors such as helical compression springs extend through theselateral holes and are compressed between conductor tubes 18 and theupper end portions of lamp terminals 20 as shown in the aforementionedUS. Pat. No. 3,614,362, these lamp terminals being partly shown in FIG.2.

As shown in FIG. 2, bushing 8a is provided with two vertical openings 8ftherethrough, one on each side, communicating with the lower and upperends of the bushing and with the lateral holes in the spherical portionof the toggle lever. Thus, lamp terminals 20 may be inserted up throughthe respective openings wslightly past the lateral openings so that theconnector springs bear thereagainst and electrically connect the lampconductor tubes thereto. These lamp terminals are formed with ahorizontal offset at about their midpoint as shown in FIG. 2 so thatthey extend laterally out between cover 8 and the retainer platehereinafter described, there being grooves 8g in the lower surface ofthe cover therefor. These lamp terminals then extend down in spacedapart relation with the external walls of the base so that suitablecomplementary terminals can be secured thereto connect the lamp to anexternal circuit.

While a neon bulb can withstand considerable snapaction shock, it doesnot provide enough illumination to enable the indicator to be seen atthe required distance, particularly when a colored lexan cap or handle14 is used. Therefore, an incandescent lamp bulb is preferred becauseitprovides much greater illumination to enable the lighted colored handleto be seen from as far away as across the room. However, an incandescentbulb has a thin filament that cannot withstand the snap-action shock,causing it to become damaged and to fall.

In typical applications, lamps having ratings from 3 to 28 volts areused. At ratings of volts and above, the filament wire is very thin anddoes not take the shock. Prior to this invention, consistent lifeoperation could not be obtained, and the trouble got worse onapplications going from 3 volt lamps toward 28 volt lamps. A neon lamprequires 110 volts A.C. whereas incandescent lamps can be operated oncomputers and the like from their standard 5 volts D.C. supply which ismore convenient.

To solve this problem, cushioning means was provided for the togglelever. For this purpose, a pair of round slots were provided in thebottom surface of the cover and a pair of resilient discs 22 of siliconerubber or the like were inserted in these slots, one on each side of thereduced lowest end portion 120 of the toggle lever. These rubber discsare positioned so that the peripheral edges thereof touch the oppositesides of the toggle when the toggle lever is at the center as shown inFIG. 2, or with not more than a small amount of compression of the discsin this position. Then in each operating position of the switch, such asthe single-pole double-throw version illustrated, one of the rubberdiscs will be compressed to take up the shock of the snap-actionproduced by the overcenter spring hereinbefore mentioned that operatesthe movable contact.

A flat, thin insulating plate 24 shown in FIG. 1 is placed directlybelow cover 8 to retain these rubber discs in their slots. Thisinsulating retainer plate is coextensive with the lower surface of thecover and is provided with a clearance aperture 24a that is oblong inshape and slightly longer in horizontal length as shown in FIG. 1 thanopening Se in the bushing and of substantially the same width as theopening in the bushing. Although retainer plate 24 is not shown in FIG.2, the shape of its opening slightly exaggerated in width is shown bydot-dash line 24a in FIG. 2. This insulating plate underlies a largeportion of rubber discs 22 and is clamped between the cover and base toretain them in their slots in the cover.

While the apparatus hereinbefore described is effectively adapted tofulfill the objects stated, it is to be understood that the invention isnot intended to be confined to the particular preferred embodiment ofswitch having a shock-proof lighted toggle lever disclosed, in as muchas it is susceptible of various modifications without departing from thescope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a switch, the combination comprising:

an insulating housing enclosing contacts;

an upstanding bushing at the top of the housing;

a toggle lever extending through said bushing and pivotaIly-mountedtherein for operating the contacts;

an incandescent lamp bulb within said toggle lever and meanselectrically connecting said lamp bulb to terminals on the housing;

and shock absorber means for said toggle lever comprising:

a pair of slots within the top of said housing at the lowerend of saidbushing, one on each side of said toggle lever;

and a pair of compression members in said slots disposed to be engagedby said toggle lever in respective operating positions thereof to reducethe shock transmitted to said lamp bulb thereby to enable use of anincandescent lamp bulb for greater visibility at a distance.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said shock absorber meansalso comprises:

an insulating plate secured to said housing and covering substantialportions of said compression members to retain the same in their slots.

3. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said pair of compressionmembers comprise:

a pair of soft silicon rubber discs, each having a peripheral edgedisposed to be compressed in a respective operating position of saidtoggle lever.

4. In a snap-action switch having an open-top base enclosing snap-actionswitch contacts, a cover closing the top of the housing including anupstanding bushing, and a toggle lever mounted in the bushing forpivotal movement to actuate the switch contacts,.the improvementcomprising:

a filament type lamp bulb mounted in the upper portion of the togglelever for indicating the operating condition of the switch;

a light transmitting cover mounted on said toggle lever over said lampbulb and serving also as a bandle by which said toggle lever isoperated;

shock absorber means for said switch comprising:

a pair of cavities in the cover at the lower end of the bushing, one oneach side of said toggle lever;

and a pair of resilient members in said cavities having one side inclose proximity to the opposite sides of the lower end portion of saidtoggle lever to cause one of said resilient members to be compressedwhen the toggle lever is pivoted from one operating position to theother thereby to absorb enough of the snap-action shock to enable use ofa filament type lamp bulb having greater indicating visibility at adistance and affording a practical number of operations without lampfailure.

5. The invention defined in claim 4, wherein said pair of resilientmembers comprise:

a pair of silicone rubber discs disposed in a plane transverse to thepivotal plane of said toggle lever and each having a peripheral edgeportion in close abutting proximity to the lower end portion of saidtoggle lever when the latter is at center, the two discs being onrespectively opposite sides of said toggle lever so that one thereofbecomes compressed in each operating position of said toggle lever toabsorb the snap-action shock. due to operation of contacts and thusincrease the life of the filament type indicator lamp bulb.

6. The invention defined in claim 5, wherein said shock absorber meansfor said switch also comprises:

an insulating plate clamped between said base and cover and having anaperture providing clearance for the lower end portion of said togglelever and 5 underlying substantial portions of said silicone rubberdiscs to retain them in said cavities.

1. In a switch, the combination comprising: an insulating housingenclosing contacts; an upstanding bushing at the top of the housing; atoggle lever extending through said bushing and pivotally mountedtherein for operating the contacts; an incandescent lamp bulb withinsaid toggle lever and means electrically connecting said lamp bulb toterminals on the housing; and shock absorber means for said toggle levercomprising: a pair of slots within the top of said housing at the lowerend of said bushing, one on each side of said toggle lever; and a pairof compression members in said slots disposed to be engaged by saidtoggle lever in respective operating positions thereof to reduce theshock transmitted to said lamp bulb thereby to enable use of anincandescent lamp bulb for greater visibility at a distance.
 2. Theinvention defined in claim 1, wherein said shock absorber means alsocomprises: an insulating plate secured to said housing and coveringsubstantial portions of said compression members to retain the same intheir slots.
 3. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said pair ofcompression members comprise: a pair of soft silicon rubber discs, eachhaving a peripheral edge disposed to be compressed in a respectiveoperating position of said toggle lever.
 4. In a snap-action switchhaving an open-top base encLosing snap-action switch contacts, a coverclosing the top of the housing including an upstanding bushing, and atoggle lever mounted in the bushing for pivotal movement to actuate theswitch contacts, the improvement comprising: a filament type lamp bulbmounted in the upper portion of the toggle lever for indicating theoperating condition of the switch; a light transmitting cover mounted onsaid toggle lever over said lamp bulb and serving also as a handle bywhich said toggle lever is operated; shock absorber means for saidswitch comprising: a pair of cavities in the cover at the lower end ofthe bushing, one on each side of said toggle lever; and a pair ofresilient members in said cavities having one side in close proximity tothe opposite sides of the lower end portion of said toggle lever tocause one of said resilient members to be compressed when the togglelever is pivoted from one operating position to the other thereby toabsorb enough of the snap-action shock to enable use of a filament typelamp bulb having greater indicating visibility at a distance andaffording a practical number of operations without lamp failure.
 5. Theinvention defined in claim 4, wherein said pair of resilient memberscomprise: a pair of silicone rubber discs disposed in a plane transverseto the pivotal plane of said toggle lever and each having a peripheraledge portion in close abutting proximity to the lower end portion ofsaid toggle lever when the latter is at center, the two discs being onrespectively opposite sides of said toggle lever so that one thereofbecomes compressed in each operating position of said toggle lever toabsorb the snap-action shock due to operation of contacts and thusincrease the life of the filament type indicator lamp bulb.
 6. Theinvention defined in claim 5, wherein said shock absorber means for saidswitch also comprises: an insulating plate clamped between said base andcover and having an aperture providing clearance for the lower endportion of said toggle lever and underlying substantial portions of saidsilicone rubber discs to retain them in said cavities.